Gregor Paul: Improved All Black pack won't be pushed around this time

Francis Saili of the All Blacks passes during the New Zealand All Blacks Captain's Run. Photo / Getty Images

Their scrummaging may have been a little suspect at times, but this All Black pack have improved massively since this time last year.

They won't be knocked about by France. They won't give an inch against England and they could do a fair bit of damage to Ireland.

This current crew can hold their own now. Last year they couldn't. Well, not every game anyway. They were second best for 60 minutes against the Boks in Dunedin last year and quite badly second best against England at Twickenham. Back then, they didn't have the speed and dynamism at the breakdown, the vicious clean-out or the punch around the fringes that they do now.

They also have an edge to them. An edge they didn't have last year. Who would mess with Sam Whitelock these days? Who would want to pick a fight with Brodie Retallick? Or call Owen Franks names?

These young man are not afraid to put themselves about now. They look a bit nasty and that's important. Opponents can become a little reluctant to poke about at the bottom of rucks if they fear the possible retribution.

In fact, this pack have jumped ahead from where they were even back in June when France were able to trouble them in all three tests at the breakdown.

The French were dynamic and clever in that area and the All Blacks were regularly cleaned out or forced to play with slow ball.

That's unlikely to happen. Watch the All Blacks blitz the French and target the men they fear are going to be a problem. Watch Whitelock do his level best to run through people. Retallick will thunder into contact and take an age to be stopped.

Then of course there is the loose trio. They add a heavy presence. Is there a harder tackler in the world game than Kieran Read? Liam Messam is a powerful force with or without the ball and has done enough in the past 12 months to earn global respect, while Richie McCaw hardly needs an explanation.

None of this will stop the French from thinking they can beat the All Blacks up. Nor will England be dissuaded from believing they can repeat last year's crunching performance and locate the All Blacks' soft underbelly. England and France are coming for them and yet the All Blacks will be happy with that.

France come hard as they like - the All Blacks are ready. It's the same for England. New Zealand may have caved in a bit last year ... it won't happen in 2013.

They might lose again - who knows - but it won't be because their pack couldn't hold their own.

This All Black pack is building into something special. They just need to tidy up their scrummaging and they may soon be considered the best in world rugby.